Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has announced that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) will investigate the sale of pharmaceuticals at excessive profit margins, some of which exceed even those of licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The Minister made these remarks on Thursday following an inspection visit to the China–Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa.

He revealed that certain hospitals were purchasing essential medicines at prices four to five times above their actual market value, often under the justification of “emergency requirements” and bypassing standard procurement procedures.

While hospitals are permitted to procure essential medicines through emergency purchases if unavailable via the Medical Supplies Division, the Minister stressed that such provisions must not be misused to justify inflated pricing. “This mismanagement of public funds under the pretext of medical necessity is unacceptable and will be subject to investigation,” he said.

Dr. Jayatissa also expressed concern over private pharmaceutical companies operating with unregulated profit margins, far exceeding those allowed under National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) guidelines. He affirmed that CIABOC will scrutinize such practices, particularly where public sector funds are involved.

During the hospital visit, the Minister inspected the dialysis unit and inpatient wards, holding discussions with administrators and staff to identify ongoing challenges in service delivery and hospital management. He described the facility as a significant gift from the Chinese government, but acknowledged that its full potential has not yet been realised.

To address this, he proposed the formation of a dedicated task force to evaluate the hospital’s operations and develop a plan for optimisation, possibly in collaboration with the Polonnaruwa District General Hospital.

Additionally, Dr. Jayatissa revealed plans to engage with the Chinese government for further assistance in supplying essential medicines and medical equipment, reinforcing bilateral cooperation in strengthening Sri Lanka’s healthcare system.

The Tea Traders’ Association has called on the government to strictly enforce laws against tea factories compromising quality during production, warning that poor standards threaten Sri Lanka’s global tea reputation.

The request was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumaranayake last Thursday. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across the tea industry, including tea smallholder factory owners, tea exporters, and officials from government institutions linked to the sector.

Special emphasis was placed on improving the quality of tea leaves, enhancing productivity, and exploring new international market opportunities. Stakeholders also discussed the establishment of a coordination platform to better connect tea manufacturers, exporters, small estate owners, and relevant government bodies.

Dr. Kumaranayake noted that further steps would be taken in consultation with the relevant Ministry, including a comprehensive investigation into the emerging challenges faced by the tea industry to deliver timely and effective solutions.

Smallholder factory owners expressed appreciation for being included in the national-level dialogue and urged continued support for capacity development programmes targeting small tea estate owners.

Also under discussion was the future programme by the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, which includes plans to establish a formal data system to track and follow up on developments in the tea cultivation sector.

Among those present were:

• Kapila Janaka Bandara, Senior Additional Secretary to the President
• W.M.T.D. Wickramasinghe, Additional Secretary to the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry
• R.K. Obeysekera, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board
• Officials from the Small Tea Estate Development Authority, Sri Lanka Tea Research Institute, Inland Revenue Department, and General Treasury
• Representatives from various tea sector associations

The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Sri Lankan tea while enhancing collaboration across the industry to boost global competitiveness.

Six rehabilitated elephants from the Eth Athuru Sevana (Elephant Transit Home) in Udawalawa were released into the Maw Ara Forest Reserve on Thursday, marking another significant step in Sri Lanka’s elephant conservation efforts.

The release was carried out in the presence of Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, and Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe.

All six elephants were fitted with GPS tracking collars to monitor their movement and adaptation to the wild. Officials noted that this is a standard part of the reintegration process, helping researchers and wildlife authorities ensure the safety of the animals and evaluate the success of the rehabilitation programme.

The Elephant Transit Home is renowned for rehabilitating orphaned elephant calves until they are old enough to survive independently in the wild. This latest release reflects the continued commitment of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to balance wildlife protection with broader ecosystem management.

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has announced plans to recruit drivers and conductors on a contract basis, with the aim of bolstering its public transport services across the country.

According to the announcement, there are currently 425 vacancies for male drivers and 25 positions for female drivers. In addition, 275 male conductors and 25 female conductors will be compulsorily recruited.

This recruitment drive is part of SLTB’s effort to enhance operations across its network of 107 depots, which currently employs over 25,000 personnel.

A public advertisement regarding the vacancies was published yesterday, with the application deadline set for July 31.

Applicants are required to present their original School Leaving Certificate (Student’s Progress Report) and other educational qualifications at the time of the interview. The SLTB has made it clear that incomplete or non-compliant applications will be rejected without consideration.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued a directive to all Licensed Financial Institutions (LFIs), imposing revised maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio caps on vehicle-related credit facilities, with effect from July 18.

The new directive applies to Licensed Commercial Banks, Licensed Specialised Banks, Licensed Finance Companies (LFCs), and Registered Finance Leasing Establishments (RFLEs), aiming to standardize and tighten vehicle financing regulations across the financial sector.

Under the revised guidelines, the maximum LTV ratios allowed are as follows:

• 80% for electric commercial vehicles
• 60% for motor cars, SUVs, and vans
• 50% for three-wheelers
• 70% for all other vehicles

This marks a reduction from the 90% LTV cap previously allowed for electric vehicles under the 2018 guidelines.

In its official statement, the Central Bank stated that the measure is intended to harmonise LTV caps across institutionsand strengthen prudent lending practices, especially concerning vehicle financing. The move is seen as a part of broader efforts to ensure financial system stability and prevent excessive credit risk within the sector.

Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku announced that arrangements are underway to establish a dedicated counter at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to issue temporary driving licences to foreign visitors upon arrival.

The initiative aims to simplify the current process, which requires foreigners to travel to the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) office in Werahera—a step the Minister described as an unnecessary burden in terms of both time and cost.

“Necessary approvals for this project have already been secured, and we expect to open the counter within the first two weeks of next month,” Deputy Minister Kodithuwakku said.

When questioned about payment methods, he stated that a final decision on whether licence fees must be paid in foreign currency is yet to be made. However, he added that if the service is offered at the airport, payment in foreign currency will likely be mandatory.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism confirmed that the Transport Ministry has formally requested a designated space within the airport for this new service.

The proposed counter is expected to improve convenience for international tourists and business travellers, aligning with broader government efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure and streamline services for visitors.

Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern and North-western provinces.Strong winds of about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and North-central provinces.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times elsewhere of the island.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by strong winds.